Sound reproducing apparatus



May 27, 1952 P. P. PATTYN 2,598,132

SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed June 15, 1949 R'erre f?. Pa ''yn ATTORNEYS yAll" Patented May 27, 1952 SOUND REPRODUCING APPARATUS Pierre I. Pattyn, Detroit, Mich., assigner, by mesne assignments, to John A. Patroske Application June 15, 1949, Serial No.'99,232

1 claim. 1

This invention relates to a novel apparatus for reproducing and simulating any type of musical tones or sounds.

A musical sound of a given pitch consists of a fundamental tone of definite amplitude and a plurality of secondary amplitudes of different harmonics of the fundamental. While not all of these harmonics are perceptible in themselves, they are all necessary in establishing the timber, quality and color of true musical notes. It is, therefore, an object of this invention to reproduce these musical tones or sounds with` extreme delity.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus forcreatingsustained and percussion sound effects.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus in which tones or sounds are produced by translating electrically originated and controlled current pulsations into sound.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus in which the tuning is mathematically accurate.

A further object of this invention is to provide apparatus for producing musical notes and sounds which will have all the characteristics i" the original instrument.

A further object of this invention is to provide a method of electrically producing a wider variety of tone qualities than has heretofore been possible in the art.

In an embodiment of the invention the musical notes and sounds are recorded on an endless tape of non-magnetic characteristic, with the tape having coated thereon or impregnated therein ferro-magnetic material or particles.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawing and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation, partly diagrammatic, of an electronic reproducing means for one note, constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view, partly broken away, of the device,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral I0 designates generally a base which has fixed adjacent one end thereof a reel support II. A reel or grooved Wheel I2 is rotatably carried by the support II, being mounted on a shaft I3 which is xedly carried by the support II. A second grooved wheel I4 is disposed adjacent the opposite end of the base ID, being mounted on a shaft I5 which is fixed to a rock lever I6.

The rock lever I6 is rockable on a shaft or pin I l which is carried by an upstanding support I3 fixed to the upper side of the base I0. An endless web or band I9 engages about the wheels I2 and i4 and the web or band I9 is extended over a stationary electronic pickup member generally designated as 20. The pickup member 26 is an electro-magnetic pickup member and is mounted on an upstanding'standard or support 2| which is xed to the base IIJ.

The web or band I9 is preferably formed of paper which has embedded therein metal particles 22 Vwhich are initially magnetized at the time a note or tone is recorded.

The pickup member 20 is connected by means of conductors 23 and 24 to an audio amplifier 25 of conventional construction, and the latter is connected to a loud speaker 26 which is also of conventional construction. The conductor 2t has interposed therein a switch generally designated as 2l, embodying a stationary contact 28 and a movable contact 29. The movable contact 29 is associated with a rock lever 30 which is constructed in the form of one of the keys of an instrument similar to an organ or piano.

The web or band IS is maintained substantially taut by means of a spring 3I which is connected at one end to the rock lever I6, and is connected at the other end, as indicated at 32, to the base IU. The band or web I9 is moved over the electromagnetic pickup 20 by means of a shaft 33 connected with a motor 34. The shaft 33 bears against a rim or ring 35 carried by a driving wheel 36 which is fixed relative to the wheel or roller I2. In the present instance the shaft 33 is adapted to be rotated continuously, and the band I9 is move able continuously over the electro-magnetic pickup member' 23. t will be understood that there will be as many bands and electro-magnetic pickups as there are notes or keys in the instrument, and selected ones or groups of the electro-magnetic members 20 will be electrically connected with the audio amplifier 25 and the speaker 2S, as may be desired by depressing of selected ones or groups of the keys 30.

The electro-magnetic member 2i] includes a core 31 disposed between a pair of non-magnetic members 38 and provided with an air gap 39 over which the corded web or band I9 is adapted to move. As the magnetized metal particles 22 pass over the air gap 39, the magnetic force in the particles 22 will activate the electro-magnetic member 20 at the time this member is energized by closing of switch 2l so that the recorded note or tone on web or band I8 will be communicated to audio ampliiier 25.

The band or web I9 is initially placed on a recording device (not shown) wherein the actual note or tone of a particular musical instrument is recorded. This note may be recorded from instruments of various types.

In the use and operation of this device, the motor 34 is energized to continuously rotate shaft 33 so that web or band I9 will be in continuous movement over electro-magnetic pickup member 20. When key 3D is depressed, movable switch member 29 will engage contact 28 to close to electric current from audio amplifier 25 to pickup member 20. When the electric current is completed from pickup 20 to amplier 25, the previously recorded note or tone carried by particles 22 will be communicated to amplier 25 and from amplifier 25 the note or tone will be communicated to the loud speaker 26.

With a device of this kind, the actual note or tone of a particular instrument will be reproduced in a loud speaker so that the reproduction of the note or tone will not be of synthetic characteristic after the manner of the notes or tones which are produced through radio tubes which are placed in oscillation after a well known manner.

I do not mean to conne myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claim.

What I claim is:

A music reproducing means comprising a base, an upstanding support xed to said base, a

grooved wheel rotatably carried by said support, a drive wheel fixed relative to said grooved wheel, a second grooved wheel spaced from said rst named grooved Wheel, a support for said second named grooved Wheel, means pivotally mounting said second named support on said base, an endless brous tape engaging about said grooved wheels, magnetized metal particles embedded in said tape, an electro-magnetic pickup carried by said base and disposed in juxtaposition to said tape, a spring engaging said second named support for maintaining said tape taut, a resilient ring carried by said drive wheel, and operating means engaging said ring for rotating said drive wheel.

PIERRE P. PATTYN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,681,628 Schwartzkopf Aug. 21, 1928 1,847,860 Best Mar, 1, 1932 1,971,028 Bothe Aug. 21, 1934 2,298,519 Tillman Oct. 13, 1942 2,356,145 Begun Aug. 22, 1944 2,385,701 Halstead Sept. 25, 1945 2,431,646 Kenny Nov. 25, 1947 2,475,694 Camras July 12, 1949 2,503,083 Waller Apr. 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 498,596 Great Britain Jan. 2, 1939 

